Nosebleeds and High Blood Pressure

Nosebleeds can be scary and panicky. Often they are a nuisance than a medical condition. However, high blood pressure nosebleeds are chronic cases. Read on to find out more...

Mukta Gaikwad

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2018

Nosebleeds are a very common problem amongst children. In medical terms, nose bleeding is known as epistaxis . Although they look scary and terrible, staying calm is the immediate requirement for dealing with nose bleeding. There are many reasons for nose bleeding such as calcium deficiency, exposure to irritating chemicals, sinusitis, high altitude, excessive use of illegal drugs and high blood pressure (HBP). HBP is a medical condition which has no symptoms. The condition can only be diagnosed by a doctor by regularly monitoring your blood pressure.

Causes

The nose has large number of blood vessels located at vulnerable points. Thus it is very easy for the nose to get hurt and start bleeding. The most common nose bleeding causes are dry weather conditions. Dry conditions can be caused by extreme winters or summers. The dryness in the air dries up the nasal membranes, which causes the nose to bleed. This kind of bleeding is more of a nuisance than a medical condition but when nosebleed is associated with high blood pressure, it can be a serious problem.

There are two types of nose bleeding, namely, anterior and posterior. One of the reasons for posterior bleeding of nose is high blood pressure. HBP is defined as the pressure exerted by the blood on the arteries. Hence, HBP nosebleeds are a result of blood pressure exceeding the normal level of 120/80.

Chronic Cases

Chronic nosebleeds can be dangerous and require immediate treatment. The anterior ones occur from the front and hence are not very dangerous. The posterior ones occur from the top, which is what makes them frightening. Generally, older people are more prone to posterior nosebleeds. Medical help should be sought immediately in case of chronic nose bleeding. Chronic nosebleeds can create panic as they are excessive and look gruesome. The person can suffer from weakness due to blood loss. In worse conditions, it may even lead to anemia.

How to Stop a Nosebleed

It is very important to stop a nosebleed as soon as possible. Here are a few tips to equip you better to stop a nosebleed.

Sit straight and lean forward to reduce the pressure on the veins of your nose. Leaning forward will also prevent you from swallowing the blood, which often causes panic and irritation.

Lightly pinch your nose just above your nostrils, with your index finger and thumb. Lean forward and breathe through your nose. This will stop the blood flow from the septum, if done for five to 10 minutes.

Lie down on your back with your head straight. Pour some cold water on your head if the bleeding is caused due to hot and dry conditions. Once the head is cooled down, the bleeding will stop in a while. As far as possible, keep your mouth open while sneezing as it de-stresses your nostrils from the pressure built up on the inside.

Preventing High Blood Pressure Nosebleeds

Nose bleeding may occur due to abnormal blood pressure. Controlling and lowering the blood pressure can help prevent frequent bleeding through nose. Following a healthy eating pattern, avoiding smoking and alcohol, adequate sleep, time management, avoiding tensions and maintaining a healthy weight with exercises are some of the ways to prevent high blood pressure.

Causes of nose bleeding are many. However, nosebleeds with high blood pressure is a dangerous combination. Consult an ENT doctor immediately if it's a case of chronic nosebleeds that keep recurring.

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.